Wednesday papers

Here's what papers around the OVC have on league teams this morning:

The (Clarksville, Tenn.) Leaf-Chronicle says Austin Peay State's players are tired of hitting eachother; they're ready for their Saturday contest against Southeast Missouri State. Another story says both teams are adjusting to new realities: APSU to players once again getting scholarships to play, and SEMO to new coach Tony Samuel.

The (Charleston, Ill.) Journal Gazette/Times-Couier examines the perceived differences between Eastern Illinois and "Big Brother" Illinois. The Illini apparently aren't taking the defnding OVC champs lightly. Unfortunately, sportswriter Mark Tupper stumbles right out of the gate, saying Illinois "plays in the NCAA's upper echelon, Division I" while EIU "is a Division I team." Mark, both teams play in Division I, which has two subclassifications. I-A and I-AA. Another story surveys the state of starting quarterback slots throughout the OVC.

The game has brought EIU a little extra attention in the state. The (Bloomington, Ill.) Pantagraphs carries a story on former high school teammates who will face off against eachother for the Pathers and Illini. The (Mount Carmel, Ill.) Daily Republican Register carries a short note about EIU in its state football roundup today. The Peoria Journal Star also has a shorty, focusing on coach Bob Spoo's likely absence.

The Richmond (Ky.) Registers exmaines Eastern Kentucky's secondary, coached by former Tennessee State defensive coordinator Orlando Mitjans.

The Anniston (Ala.) Star (sorry, subscribers only) analyzes Jacksonville State's opening matchup against Furman. Getting past the Paladins has been a fixation for JSU's program since December 2004, when the teams met in the first round of the playoffs. The Gamecocks got waxed in that one, 49-7, but last year's season opener was much tighter, with a 37-35 Furman victory. The Star says the teams are mirror images this year, both replacing starting quarterbacks and adjusting their offensive styles accordingly.

The Southeast Missourian, like the JGTC above, examines the league's quarterbacks. Apparently it was a topic of discussion in the the OVC coaches' teleconference this week.

The (Nashville) Tennessean says Tennessee State's six I-A transfers all will start in Saturday's opener against Alabama A&M. In a column, Mike Organ praises TSU's practice of honoring its seniors at a pre-season luncheon rather than the final home game. Better to applaud the vets while the year still holds promise than later, when their fate is largely sealed, Organ says.